Constitutional amendment would add religious freedom language

State Sen. Donna Campbell’s proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit the government from burdening an individual’s religious freedom, which is already in state statute, was considered Monday by a committee of lawmakers.

Senate Joint Resolution 4 would prohibit the government from interfering in situations where an individual chooses to act or refuses to act in a certain way on the basis of religion unless the government proves it has a compelling interest. Similar language was adopted in state law in 1999 as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, but Campbell’s proposal would solidify the law into a constitutional amendment.

“Our protection is weak,” said Campbell, R-New Braunfels, adding that her legislation was prompted by more than 600 cases since 1990 in which she said religious freedom has been threatened.

Timothy Hildebrand, father of Angela Hildebrand, testified in favor of the bill. Angela Hildebrand was the valedictorian at a San Antonio-area high school (Medina Valley) in 2011 who was sued by an agnostic group in Washington D.C. over a prayer she planned to include in her speech.

“I pray no other Texas family has to go through what she went through,” Timothy Hildebrand said. “Instead of preparing for college, she was practicing for deposition.”

However, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, voiced concern that the amendment would add protection for extreme groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church who protest funerals of military members killed in action.

Texas constitutional amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the House and Senate and then approved by a majority of voters in November.